The Journey, Chapter 37 = previous chapter
Chapter 38: Bladder
Loki calmly swoops down, Santi looks behind and growls-barks excitedly. Nekonata glances behind him, and holds his arm out for Loki to land who promptly walks up his arm and settles on the boy's shoulder.
“Nice stretch of wings huh?” He asks Loki quietly
“Horse nice!” Squawks the raven, ignoring his question.
Neko rode on in silence occasionally patting Kimbo’s neck in reassurance, the sun started to fall and the sky darkened as the stars woke up in the night time horizon. Neko looked up admiring the stars. “The north star… Orion’s Belt.. that is Canis Major and that over there is Centaurus…” He muttered to himself. He sighed deep in thought thinking ‘I know all this… but how?’
It was late evening when they finally came across an unnamed village, all of the wooden cabin structures looking very new. A small cobblestone wall signified the boundary line. Nekonata dismounts from Kimbo and hitches his reins onto a post.
Children were playing in the nearby field, Nekonata stopped and watched them for a moment, Santaya and Kristolia sat down at his feet, their tails wagging wanting to run off and join the children. As Nekonata watched he noticed a young girl walking on top of a narrow jagged wall, her balance wavering every now and then. One of the boys inside the field kicked a pig’s bladder at her. It hit the girl in the face, knocking her off balance and causing her to fall. Before he had even realised he was moving he had caught the young girl an inch or so from the ground, a jagged stone just millimetres away from her eyes. Nekonata, still shocked from how fast he had moved, lifted the young girl up and sat her on the wall.
“Are you ok?” He asked her softly, the young girl stunned just nodded her head. He moved to walk away, as all the boys who were playing in the field ran up to him and surrounded him.
“Wow, that was amazing!” One of the boys said.
“You moved so fast you were just a blur,” said another
The boy who originally kicked the pig's bladder at the girl decided he would kick the ball at Kristolia, Nekonata spun on his heel unsheathed his blade in one fluid movement, slashing the bladder in half before it made contact with the wolf's face. Nekonata leapt over the wall sheathing his blade, and stormed towards the boy.
“Who do you think you are, Boy?” The boy slowly started to walk backwards. “No point in running from me boy! I will catch you before you say your own name!”
The boy turned and ran “Mal..” Nekonata ran forward and grabbed the boy by his shirt collar “Colm” The boy finished, then noticed his legs were longer on the floor.
“Don’t you EVER kick anything at my girls!” Nekonata growled pointing at the wolves. “You are lucky I don’t let them eat you!” He said, staring menacingly into the boy's eyes.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I won’t do it again I promise!” The boy started to cry as he wet himself.
Nekonata put him down on the floor. “Now go say sorry to the girl you hit, it best be heartfelt or the wolves will get you!”
Santaya and Kristolia stood and growled, flashing their teeth at Malcolm.
Nekonata turned to walk away, “Come on girls.” He called over his shoulder.
Nekonata glanced back to see Malcolm had hugged the girl and apologized. He was confused at his new found speed. He tightened his cloak around him and continued to walk on, gently grabbing the Kimbo’s reins as they slowly walked into the village. Walking into the centre of the village he noticed everyone quickly walking away from in the opposite direction, those inside already shutting their doors and windows. “What’s going on here?” He asked, confused.
“Your kind aren’t welcome here!” A voice came from a man leading a small group who were carrying roughly hewn swords.
“I mean you no harm, I was hoping to find board for the night.” Neko said, raising his arms.
“You’ll find nowhere here! You must leave now, please!”
“Ok, ok, will you kindly allow me to pass through the village?”
The men looked at eachother, muttered among themselves and then turned back to him. “Fine, since you asked politely, but move quickly.”
Neko took hold of Kimbo’s reins again and started to walk forward, the wolves ears pricked backwards on guard watching the surroundings.
“You said my kind, have you had trouble?” Neko asked cautiously.
“Wolves… big ones! Stealing our farm animals.” One of the men said, giving Santaya and Kristolia a dirty look.
“My girls wouldn’t do anything like that, they know better.” He commented back politely.
“You can’t change the mentality of a wild animal.” The leader of the group quipped.
Nekonata said no more, he’d heard all he needed to, Loki stayed silent through the whole exchange, but watched eagerly. They came to the edge of the village, and he mounted Kimbo and softly started to trott forward, the wolves close by, either side of Kimbo. The group of men watched until they were out of sight.
“Large wolves?” Neko muttered to himself.
“Direwolves be large, large, large!” Loki Squawked exaggeratedly.
“Ok, ok, I get the picture, direwolves be large, large, large” He said imitating the raven, who promptly nipped at Neko’s ear lobe, and then flew off. “Ouch!”
They travelled for a good while before stopping to take a rest. Nekonata removed the saddle and tack from Kimbo to let the horse roam free and rest. “Stay close Kimbo, my friend. I trust you!”
A small fire was lit and his wolf companions curled up close to, the weather was getting colder. After a small meal of bread and cheese Nekonata lay down to get some rest. He pulled his travelling cloak around him, but was still cold, Santaya and Kristolia came and lay on either side of him and rested their heads on his chest. Nekonata fell into a deep sleep.
Everything was quiet, no animals could be heard, no water trickling or rushing in its streams, no branches or trees swaying in the wind. Everything was as silent as stone. Something flew in the sky, high up, too high to be seen... But it cast a large shadow over the spot where he stood. It turned, it was coming towards him fast, faster than anything he had ever seen. He wanted to run, but he couldn't, he was stuck, rooted to the spot. Whatever it was almost upon him, he couldn't make it out, other than it was huge, absolutely massive, something jumped high in the air, and landed gracefully in front of him. A young girl, she had curly ginger hair and piercing green eyes, her skin was so light and pale... She was beautiful... She smiled. “Please... Help”
Nekonata sat up, awoken by a loud snort. He hit his head on something sharp and knew straight away his head was bleeding. He looked around to see Loki sat staring at him an inch away from his face, Santaya and Kristolia were looking at him confused.
“Damn it Loki! What are you doing?” Nekonata shouted.
“Talk sleep” muttered Loki, he stretched his wings and flew back up on the tree branch he had chosen as his perch.
Nekonata watched him while wiping the blood from his head. “I saw a girl, green eyes, orange hair, pale skin, and asked me to help her, it felt so real Loki.” He clenched his hands to try to stop them shaking.
Loki’s eyes went wide, he listened, the raven started to pace up and down the branch, glance at the boy every now and then. Suddenly a small swallow came flying towards the raven, landing softly on the branch it looked at Neko and bowed and then turned to face the raven.
“Did that bird just.. bow… to me?” He asked, rubbing his eyes.
Loki and the swallow looked at each other intently.
‘Tara, has stirred, she’s ok, but she stirred, for the first time she called out in her slumber and said, ‘I see you, please help!’ it sounded like a desperate plea.’ The swallow said to Loki through mind talk.
Loki looked back at Neko who was still rubbing his eyes perplexed. Turning back to the swallow through her mind he replied. ‘It’s time to set everything in motion. Tell the queen it’s time to rekindle relationships with the dwarves and the men of the south.’
The swallow nodded, understanding what it must do, turning and looking at Nekonata once more, in a tweety melodic voice said, “It’s been a while… by the way, your head, it’s bleeding.” Then she flew off.
“Oh great! Another talking bird!” Neko says dramatically… “Hey, wait! What do you mean it’s been a while?!”
Chapter 38: Bladder
Loki calmly swoops down, Santi looks behind and growls-barks excitedly. Nekonata glances behind him, and holds his arm out for Loki to land who promptly walks up his arm and settles on the boy's shoulder.
“Nice stretch of wings huh?” He asks Loki quietly
“Horse nice!” Squawks the raven, ignoring his question.
Neko rode on in silence occasionally patting Kimbo’s neck in reassurance, the sun started to fall and the sky darkened as the stars woke up in the night time horizon. Neko looked up admiring the stars. “The north star… Orion’s Belt.. that is Canis Major and that over there is Centaurus…” He muttered to himself. He sighed deep in thought thinking ‘I know all this… but how?’
It was late evening when they finally came across an unnamed village, all of the wooden cabin structures looking very new. A small cobblestone wall signified the boundary line. Nekonata dismounts from Kimbo and hitches his reins onto a post.
Children were playing in the nearby field, Nekonata stopped and watched them for a moment, Santaya and Kristolia sat down at his feet, their tails wagging wanting to run off and join the children. As Nekonata watched he noticed a young girl walking on top of a narrow jagged wall, her balance wavering every now and then. One of the boys inside the field kicked a pig’s bladder at her. It hit the girl in the face, knocking her off balance and causing her to fall. Before he had even realised he was moving he had caught the young girl an inch or so from the ground, a jagged stone just millimetres away from her eyes. Nekonata, still shocked from how fast he had moved, lifted the young girl up and sat her on the wall.
“Are you ok?” He asked her softly, the young girl stunned just nodded her head. He moved to walk away, as all the boys who were playing in the field ran up to him and surrounded him.
“Wow, that was amazing!” One of the boys said.
“You moved so fast you were just a blur,” said another
The boy who originally kicked the pig's bladder at the girl decided he would kick the ball at Kristolia, Nekonata spun on his heel unsheathed his blade in one fluid movement, slashing the bladder in half before it made contact with the wolf's face. Nekonata leapt over the wall sheathing his blade, and stormed towards the boy.
“Who do you think you are, Boy?” The boy slowly started to walk backwards. “No point in running from me boy! I will catch you before you say your own name!”
The boy turned and ran “Mal..” Nekonata ran forward and grabbed the boy by his shirt collar “Colm” The boy finished, then noticed his legs were longer on the floor.
“Don’t you EVER kick anything at my girls!” Nekonata growled pointing at the wolves. “You are lucky I don’t let them eat you!” He said, staring menacingly into the boy's eyes.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I won’t do it again I promise!” The boy started to cry as he wet himself.
Nekonata put him down on the floor. “Now go say sorry to the girl you hit, it best be heartfelt or the wolves will get you!”
Santaya and Kristolia stood and growled, flashing their teeth at Malcolm.
Nekonata turned to walk away, “Come on girls.” He called over his shoulder.
Nekonata glanced back to see Malcolm had hugged the girl and apologized. He was confused at his new found speed. He tightened his cloak around him and continued to walk on, gently grabbing the Kimbo’s reins as they slowly walked into the village. Walking into the centre of the village he noticed everyone quickly walking away from in the opposite direction, those inside already shutting their doors and windows. “What’s going on here?” He asked, confused.
“Your kind aren’t welcome here!” A voice came from a man leading a small group who were carrying roughly hewn swords.
“I mean you no harm, I was hoping to find board for the night.” Neko said, raising his arms.
“You’ll find nowhere here! You must leave now, please!”
“Ok, ok, will you kindly allow me to pass through the village?”
The men looked at eachother, muttered among themselves and then turned back to him. “Fine, since you asked politely, but move quickly.”
Neko took hold of Kimbo’s reins again and started to walk forward, the wolves ears pricked backwards on guard watching the surroundings.
“You said my kind, have you had trouble?” Neko asked cautiously.
“Wolves… big ones! Stealing our farm animals.” One of the men said, giving Santaya and Kristolia a dirty look.
“My girls wouldn’t do anything like that, they know better.” He commented back politely.
“You can’t change the mentality of a wild animal.” The leader of the group quipped.
Nekonata said no more, he’d heard all he needed to, Loki stayed silent through the whole exchange, but watched eagerly. They came to the edge of the village, and he mounted Kimbo and softly started to trott forward, the wolves close by, either side of Kimbo. The group of men watched until they were out of sight.
“Large wolves?” Neko muttered to himself.
“Direwolves be large, large, large!” Loki Squawked exaggeratedly.
“Ok, ok, I get the picture, direwolves be large, large, large” He said imitating the raven, who promptly nipped at Neko’s ear lobe, and then flew off. “Ouch!”
They travelled for a good while before stopping to take a rest. Nekonata removed the saddle and tack from Kimbo to let the horse roam free and rest. “Stay close Kimbo, my friend. I trust you!”
A small fire was lit and his wolf companions curled up close to, the weather was getting colder. After a small meal of bread and cheese Nekonata lay down to get some rest. He pulled his travelling cloak around him, but was still cold, Santaya and Kristolia came and lay on either side of him and rested their heads on his chest. Nekonata fell into a deep sleep.
Everything was quiet, no animals could be heard, no water trickling or rushing in its streams, no branches or trees swaying in the wind. Everything was as silent as stone. Something flew in the sky, high up, too high to be seen... But it cast a large shadow over the spot where he stood. It turned, it was coming towards him fast, faster than anything he had ever seen. He wanted to run, but he couldn't, he was stuck, rooted to the spot. Whatever it was almost upon him, he couldn't make it out, other than it was huge, absolutely massive, something jumped high in the air, and landed gracefully in front of him. A young girl, she had curly ginger hair and piercing green eyes, her skin was so light and pale... She was beautiful... She smiled. “Please... Help”
Nekonata sat up, awoken by a loud snort. He hit his head on something sharp and knew straight away his head was bleeding. He looked around to see Loki sat staring at him an inch away from his face, Santaya and Kristolia were looking at him confused.
“Damn it Loki! What are you doing?” Nekonata shouted.
“Talk sleep” muttered Loki, he stretched his wings and flew back up on the tree branch he had chosen as his perch.
Nekonata watched him while wiping the blood from his head. “I saw a girl, green eyes, orange hair, pale skin, and asked me to help her, it felt so real Loki.” He clenched his hands to try to stop them shaking.
Loki’s eyes went wide, he listened, the raven started to pace up and down the branch, glance at the boy every now and then. Suddenly a small swallow came flying towards the raven, landing softly on the branch it looked at Neko and bowed and then turned to face the raven.
“Did that bird just.. bow… to me?” He asked, rubbing his eyes.
Loki and the swallow looked at each other intently.
‘Tara, has stirred, she’s ok, but she stirred, for the first time she called out in her slumber and said, ‘I see you, please help!’ it sounded like a desperate plea.’ The swallow said to Loki through mind talk.
Loki looked back at Neko who was still rubbing his eyes perplexed. Turning back to the swallow through her mind he replied. ‘It’s time to set everything in motion. Tell the queen it’s time to rekindle relationships with the dwarves and the men of the south.’
The swallow nodded, understanding what it must do, turning and looking at Nekonata once more, in a tweety melodic voice said, “It’s been a while… by the way, your head, it’s bleeding.” Then she flew off.
“Oh great! Another talking bird!” Neko says dramatically… “Hey, wait! What do you mean it’s been a while?!”
The Journey, Chapter 39
Chapter 39. Knightmares The room was loud, and bustling with chatty people, musicians playing soft melodies, the sounds of wooden clogs tapping on the floors as servants hurried around refilling cups and goblets, and offering food. He sat at the head of the table with his wife on his left, the...
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